Electrical timing device



May 6, 1930. Fl EPNDLETON ELECTRICAL TIMING DEVICE 5 sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 26, 1924 WITNESS RM ym @QZ m. 1M A F. E. PENDITETON v ELECTRICAL TIM-INVGl *DEVICE* 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed April 26, 1924 Y INVENTOR Y PfA/L'/V A'rroRNEY May 6, 1930. F. E. PENDLETON ELECTRICAL TIMING DEVICE Original4 Filed April 26, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY ArroRNEYs May 6 1930- F E.PEND| ETON v ELECTRICAL TIMING DEVICE original File@ April 26, 1924 '5 sheets-sheer 5l INVENTOR fiM/wf. Ffm/0.4570

BY M ATTORNEY Patented May 6, 1930 UNITED STATES MTETA oF-rice ELECTRICAL TIMING DEVICE Original application filed' April 26, 1924, Serial No. 709,282, now Patent No. 1,731,436. Divided and this application' filed October 11, 1927.l Serial No.1225,437.

5 it will be understood that it is applicable to other and widely varying uses.

In the adaption of electric timing devices, in many cases, to produce desired effects, it has further been found desirable toprovide ic a suitable form of'switch member, the proper n.. um)

positioning oflwhich will operate toadvance or retard the occurrence of the cycle referred to and with respectvto the movement or rotation ofthe element to which `it is con- 'f nected; and although the said cycle may coordinate continuously with the movement of the element through which it secures impulse, yet the relation of such coordination to the movement of the element may be varied by the adjustment of the switch referred to, at the will of the operator. Again incertain forms of electrictiming devices the character itself of the cycle produced, while coordinating with the movement of the element to which it is connected, may be so modified, by means of a suitableswitch, such as to produce a if'ariation of the said character of the cycle; and as appears, for instance, in` an ordinary form of temperature control device governing the turning on and shutting ofi" of steam from a heating system, and in conjunction with which, anV electric timing' device is often used, consisting of a clock as the moving element and suitable electric terminals, together with moving contacts, the movement of which' contacts, with vrespect to the terminais, produces a cycle of turning on and turn ing 'off of steam from the system. By means of suitable switches the relative' position of contacts to terminals may be so varied at the will of the operator that the cycle may not only be advanced or retarded with; respect to actual time, but by furtherV adjust-nient of switches, the character of cycle or the relative periods duringwhich steam is turned on or turned off'from the system, may becontrolled by the operator. Y

My invention provides in an electric timing device'novel and'improved means for producing cycles of f electricY impulses coordinat.

ing with the movement of a primary element, for advancing or retarding such cycle, for modifying the character of the said cycle or for introducing a second cycle of effects independent of or, if desired, coordinating with, the first cycle, and all at the will of the operator. The embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings and speciiications exhibits a clock as the moving element and such that the cycles of effects to bevr produced coordinate with time, and the character of the cycles produced and several modificationsv and combinations thereof provided for by the devices are intended in this exempliiication of the invention to be applied, by means of the make and break of electric circuits, to suitable apparatus for the turning on and shutting off 'or interrupting of the flow of steam in a pipe from a remote point or location. The following specifications and accompanying drawings exhibiting this form of the invention are not to be interpreted in a liinitingsense and the invention could as well have been exhibited in a form to be used in conjunction with apparatus for the control of fog signals or for the control of pumping devices, or with many forms of apparatus used for various industrial purposes.

vWithfthese and othei` objects in view, the

invention com-prises the apparatus described 1 and set forth inf the following specification and claims.

The various features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. l is a front view in elevation Vof a timing device embodying a preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the timing device shown in Fig. l, taken on a plane immediately below the dial plate of the device.

Fig. 3 is a section 'of the device taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 isa section' of the device taken on the line 4,-4 of Fig. 2.V

Fig. 5 is asection of the device taken' on line 5 5 of Fig. 2, and,

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are sections of the device taken on lines 6 6, 7 7, and 8 8, respectively ofiFig.-4.

In describing the invention it will be assumed that the device is detached from its normal vertical position in use, and placed 1n a horizontal position as on a work bench, as

such would be the convenent position for eX- amination and for assembly.

In my present invention, an electric circuit for controlling the passage of steam includes a pair of branches in parallel so arranged that when either is-closed current passes to a steam valve control to close the valve and, when both branch circuits are opened, the current isr entirely cut off from this steam valve control and'steam is permitted to pass. In one of these branch circuits is a timing element, referred to hereinafter as a day switch, having an element rotated by clockwork or other driving means to complete a revolution in a definite time interval, or in definite relation to the rotation of thedriving element, and in each revolution closing and opening the branch circuit for successive intervals which may be varied relatively to each other. lThis rotating element comprises a rotating wiper which wipes and contacts a number of contacts in succession and is so arranged that it is always in contact with one of these contacts. rlhe circuit is completed from these contacts through an adjusting element which may be adjusted to maintain contact with one or more of thecontact points at any time or to be insulated from all of the contacts, depending on its position relative to them, so that the time during which the circuit is closed through this adjusting element or is interrupted is controlled by the number of contacts to which this adjusting element is connected. The adjusting element is provided with a manually operable knob and a dial so that an attendant or operator may, by merely turning the knob, adjust the relative lengths of the closed and opened periods of the circuits.

Means are also provided in the other branch of the circuit operating in a longer time cycle e as, for example, twenty-four hours, for closing the circuit and thus shutting off the steam during portions of this longer period of time, as at night, and for opening the circuit and thus permitting the supply of steam, subject to the day switch, during the remaining portion of its period of rotation, as during the day time. `This control means, referred to hereinafter as the night switch, is somewhat similar in structure to that of the day switch but the rotating contact wiper has a longer time in which to complete a rotation, as, in the above example, twenty-four hours.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, an electric current for controlling the steam cut off and admission mechanism is conducted from any suitable source through a lead or conductor 10 extending through aninlet conduit 12 into a casing 14 of the timing mechanism. The conductor 10 connects with a binding post 16 mounted on an insulating slab 17 supported on a base 18 in the casing 14.

From this binding post 16 the current is conducted through a wire 19 and branch wire 2O to a binding post 22 of a timing element 24, which will be referred hereinafter as the night switch, and which acts to break and close the circuit in a period of twenty-four hours in such a manner that at a predetermined time the current will be broken to permit the passage of steam through the controlled apparatus and at another predetermined time will be closed to interrupt the passage of steam through this controlled apparatus. From the night switch 24 the circuit returns through a return binding post 26 and conductor 28 which may be connected directly to a binding post 44, as indicated, or may pass through a relay switch 34 and thence to the binding post 44 as described in Patent No. 1,731,436. From the binding post 44 the circuit returns through the lead wire 46 to the apparatus to be controlled.

Another branch circuit 66 leads from the lead wire 19 to a binding post 68 of a second timing element 7 0. From the timing element 70 the circuit returns through a binding post 72 and return wire 74 to the binding post 44 as indicated, or may pass through a relay switch 34 to control indicator lights as described in Patent No. 1,731,436 and then to the binding post 44.

It will thusy be apparent that when current passes through either of the timing elements, that is, through either the day switch or the night switch it will pass, either directly as indicated or through the coils 37 or 38 of the magnet 34 as shown in the above mentioned Patent No. 1,731,436, to the proper leads or circuits to shut off steam. Thus, if during a portion of the longer cycle of the night switch 24 the contacts are so positioned as to permit the current to pass, the steam valve will be shut regardless of the position or action of the contacts in the shorter period timing element or day switch 70. On the other hand, when the timing element 24 is so arranged that the circuit therethrough is opened, the passage of currentl through the control apparatus, and the shutting ofl' and turning on of steam will be controlled by the day switch until the night switch returns to a position to permit. the passage of cur` rent therethrough.

The night switch 24 and day switch 70 are driven in their respective cycles from a clock or other suitable mechanism 88 through an idler gear or pinion 90 on a shaft 92 mounted between a bearing 94 on the plate 36 and a bearing 96 on a plate 97 supported on plate 18. The idler gear 90, in turn, meshes with, and drives, a'time set gear 98 loosely mounted on a time set shaft 100, which is j ournaled atits lower end in a bearing 102 mounted on the plate 97 and extends Vlupwardly through abearing 104 in the upper pl'ate 36'. `On the time set gear 98 are mounted Vpawls 106, Fig. 4 maintained in Vclose engagement with a ratchet wheel 108 by means of suitable springs 110. The ratchet wheel 108 is firmly secured to the time shaft so that the shaft 100 is rotated when the gear 98 is rotated in a clockwise direction causing the pawls 106 to engage the ratchet wheel 108 but permitting the shaft 100 `to be rotated in the same direction without rotating the clock or idler gear 90. driving gear11'2 is also firmly mounted on the shaft 100 and serves to drive the mechanisms of both the day switch `and"night switch.

The time set shaft 100 is also extended 'upwardly through a dial plate 114 spaced from the 4base 18 by means of posts 116. A knob 118 is fixed on the upper, projecting end of the shaft 100 by which the shaft may he manually rotated and a pointer 120 is attached to the lower face of the knob to indicate the position of the shaft and, accordingly, of the driving gear 112 and of the timing elements or' switches driven by this gear. The pointer 120 rotates above a dial 122 on the face of the dial plate 1 14 which is divided Ainto twenty-four divisions numbered in two separate series from 1 to 12 corresponding to the hours of the day and night, the shaft 100 and itsl associated gears making one complete revolution in a period of twenty-four hours, and the pointer 120 indicating the corresponding position of the timing mechanisms or day and night switches. The clock mechanism has a dial face 124 on the dial plate 114 immediately above the dial 122 and an hour hand 126 'and a minute hand 128 of the usual type moving over this dial. vThe pointer 120 moves in a definite relation to the 'hands of the clock and should point to the same hour as the clock hour hand 126. If for any reason the pointer 120 is not in agreement with the clock hour hand, it may be rotated, in the direction indicated by the arrow, together with the timing mechanisms driven by it, the pawls 106 slipping past the ratchet wheel 108 and thus permitting this setting of the timing mechanisms without interferingwi'th the clock mechanism.

lThe dial plate 114 land the various knobs mounted above it are covered byv a glass door 136 on the casing 14 which is hinged at 137 to permit access tothe knobs for the purpose v of adjustment.

The rotating element of the night switch 24 is fixed on a shaft 138 driven by the gear wheel 140 also rigidly fixed or mounted on the shaft 138. As the gear wheel 140 is. to be driven from the drivingjgear 112 on the time set shaft 100 and in the same direction and at the'same angular velocity as the wheel 112, the gears 140 and 112 vare provided with the same diameters and number of teeth and the gear 140`is driventhrough an idlergear 142,

on a shaft 144 journaled at its lower end in a bearing' 146 on the plate 97 and at its upper end in a bearing 148 in a lug 150 de )ending` downwardly from the upper plate 36. The

shaft 138 of the night switch is jcurnaled at by means of an insulating bushing between p the collar and shaft. The collar is electrical.- ly connected to the binding post 22, which is mounted on the insulating plate 160, by means of a brush 164 extending from the binding post 22 back of the plate 160 and resting on the upper surface of the collar 162, Mounted on the outer surface of the collar 162 is a metallic spiral spring 166, which, as the shaft 138 and collar 162 rotate, wipes against a number of posts 168 depending downwardly in a circle from the insulatingplate 160. The spring 166 and the posts 168 are so proportioned and positioned relative to each other that the spring 166 is always in contact with one and only one of the posts, and thus each post is placed in. succession in electric connection with the binding post 22 and its circuit. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, twelve posts are used and, as the shaft, 138, collar 162 and spring' 166 make ill/1f one complete revolution in each twenty-four hours, each post is connected to the electric circuit for a period of two hours.

Each of the posts 168 is mounted on or in contact with a hollow collar 170 extending through the insulating plate 160, flanged slightly inwardly at their upper ends and having projecting' ball contacts 172 having outward'flanges attheir lower ends which are urged upwardly against the inward flanges i of the collars by means of spiral springs 174, Y

On the under side of the insulating plate the return binding post 26 of the nightswit-ch is mounted and provided with a hollow colvlar 176, ball contact 178 and spring 180 similar to those of the posts 168. It will be apparent that by connecting the contact 178 with any desired number of the contacts 172, a circuit will be closed through the switch whenever the spring 166 contacts with the posts of the selected group of contacts, and, since each post is contacted by the spring 1,66 during a definite period of two hours of the cycle of twenty-four hours, the time when the circuit is closed may be predetermined.

For this purpose the ball contacts 172 are arranged to press upwardly against and contactr with contacts 182 mounted in a circular plate of insulating material 184 and extending through this plate and a metallic plate 186 thereon over which the Contacts are headed or riveted and thereby interconnected. Other contacts 188 are also mounted on the plate 184 and in contact with the metallic plate 186 and positioned to contact with the ball contact 178 of the binding post 26. It will thus be apparent that the binding post 26 may be placed into electric connection, through the contacts 182 and 188 and the plate 186, with selected numbers of the posts 168.

The plate 184 is normally stationary during the operation of the timing mechanism but may be rotated into a limited number of positions to bring different combinations of posts into electric connection with the bind-v ing post 26. For this purpose the plate 184 is fiXedly mounted on a shaft 190 the lower end of which is journaled in the bearing 158 and the upper portion of which projects through a cover 192 of the switch casing 156 and through an opening in the dial plate 114. A manually operable knob 194 is mounted on the upper end of the shaft 190 by which the disc 184 may be rotated into different settings to connect the desired combinations of contact posts 168 with the binding post 26. A double pointer 196 is also mounted on the under side of the knob 194 to rotate over a dial 198 on the dial plate 114 which is provided with marks or legends to indicate the time when the circuit will be closed for Steam off or opened for Steam on when the pointer points in any of the settings. A number of notches 200 are also cut in the outer circumference of the disc 184 in position to be successively engaged by a spring pressed detent 202 in the side of the switch casing 156 when the disc is rotated into the proper position for the different settings.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the disc is designed for seven settings, in some of which the steam is turned on at 6 a. m. and olf at 6, 8, 10 or 12 p. m. respectively and in others of which the steam is turned on at 4 a. m. and is turned oftl at 10 or 12 p. m. and in one of which the steam is turned on at all times or, as indicated is on the same at night as in the day time. Inasmuch as the steam is always on between 6 a. m. and 6 p. m., the circuit is always broken between these hours and the posts 168 corresponding to these hours are not provided with ball contacts 172 as are the other posts, and serve merely to keep the spiral spring 166 in place.

Since the disc is never rotated more than 180 degrees a post 204 is mounted on the disc 184 insulated from the metallic plate 186 and projecting upwardly to contact with a pair of posts 206 and 2 08 depending downwardly from the cover 192 as the disc reaches the ends of its semicircular rotation.

Inasmuch as it would not be possible or convenient to obtain all of the desired combinations if the ball contacts 172 were mounted directly above the posts 168 some of them are off set on circles of larger diameter and connected to their posts by metallic straps or strips 214 on the under side of the plate 160 and some of the contacts 182 are similarly arranged on circles of corresponding diameters and in the required spacing to provide the connection of the desired posts with a selected setting of the disc 184.

yThe structure of the day switch is somewhat similar to that of the night switch but as the switch element is to rotate in a much shorter cycle, its driving gear is driven from the gear 112 through a gear train which decreases its period of rotation, in the present case in the ratio of 16 to 1. This gear train comprises a small gear 218 fixed on a shaft 220 mounted between a bearing 222 in the plate 97 and a bearing 224 in a lug 226 off set from the plate 36. Fixed to the shaft 220 above the gear 218 is a larger gear 228 which meshes with a driving gear 230 mounted on a shaft 232 which acts similarly to the shaft 138 of the night switch to rotate the timing or contact element of the switch. The shaft 232 is journaled at its lower end in a bearing 234 in a plate 236 extending across the lower portion of a switch casing 238 and is journaled at its upper end in a bearing 250 in a plate 242 of insulating material extending across the casing above the gear 230.

A metallic collar 244 is fixed on and insulated from the shaft 232 and is electrically connected to the binding post 68 by means of a brush 246 mounted on the lower face of the plate 242 and wiping against the upper face of the collar 244. The collar 244 is also provided with a spiral spring 248 which wipes against a series of posts 250 depending downwardly from the insulating plate 242 and arranged in a circle about the shaft 232. The function of the spring 248 and posts 250 is similar to that of the spring 166 and posts 168 of the night switch 24 but as the cycle of rotation is shorter, only six posts are required. The posts 250 are also attached to collars having spring pressed ball contacts 254 in their ends projecting slightly above the upper face of the plate 242 (Fig. 7).

The ball contacts 254 are positioned to press against the lower face of a rotatable plate 256 having Contact rivets 258 so positioned therein that when the plate 256 is placed in different angular positions the rivets 258 will contact with different combinations of ball contacts. The rivets 258 extend through and are headed down on a metallic plate 260 on the upper face of the plate 256 to connect them to each other. Certain of the rivets 258, in certain positions of the plate 256 contact with ball contacts 264 connected to the return binding post 72 by means of a metallic connecting strip 266 on the under face of the plate 242.

The plate 256 is to remain in a fixed posi- Lampes tionduring the rotationjoftheshaf-t 232 and the spring 248 but is also so mounted as-to be rotated into'a variety ofdiferent--positionsj in each of' which af differentcombination/10i` .post-S250 will be connected to the'bindig post 72 through the ball contacts 254v and the plat'e 260. F or this purpseth'e plate 256 is fixed on a shaft 268, insulated from the metallic plate 260 and journaled at its lower end in the bearing 240 and extending upwardly through a bearing 27 O in a cover plate 272 of the switch casing 238. The upper end of the shaft 268 projects slightly above the dial plate 114 and rigidly mounted on its upper end is a knob 274 and a double pointer 276 which swings over a dial 278 in the dial plate 114. The dial plate is divided into seven diierent positions indicating that when the pointer is in one of the positions the steam will be on throughout the cycle, in another position will be on 11/,c hours and off hour, in another will be on 1/2 hour and od l@ hour and so on in quarter hour gradations until a position is reached in which the steam will be entirely shut 0H. Each of these conditions is, however, subject to the night switch positions.

The plate 256 is provided with a series of notches 28() in its circumference equally spaced to correspond to the positions of the various settings and a spring pressed detent 282 is provided in the switch casing 238 to engage the notches and insure the plate coming to a stop in a setting rather than an intermediate position.

To enable the desired number of contacts and combinations of connections to be obtained some of the ball contacts are not mounted directly above their respective posts 250 but are off set on circles of larger radii and are connected to their respective posts by metallic connector strips 288 and 290 on the lower face of the plate 242. The rivets are correspondingly arranged on circles of the same radii as those of the posts 250 and the circles, respectively.

The plate 256 is also provided with an upwardly projecting post 292 positioned to strike posts 294 and 296 as the plate is rotated to a limiting position within 180 degrees corresponding to the end positions of the pointer 276 and the dial 278.

The operation of the switches in circuit is briefly as follows: Current entering through the main 10 flows through a branch circuit 2O to binding posts 22, Fig. 2, which are at all times in contact with a collar 162, Fig. 5, and a central rotating shaft 138 by means of a brush 164. The shaft 138 is rotated from the clock mechanism 88 through the gears 90, 98, 112, 142 and 140, Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The collar 162 of the shaft 138 is thus rotated to cause the resilient wipers 166 to in turn contact with the several posts 168, the arrangement being such-thatJ one post, 4and only one, is atall times inlcontact withthe rotating wipers 166- and thusA connected to the bindingpostl 22 and circuit wire-20; The'posts 168l arey electrically connected to the spring-pressed contacts-17 2 which b ear'against thelowersur-A face or' aninsulatedfplate 184-having spaced tlfiereinvarious contacts 1.82- that are interconnectedby a` metallic platel86 on the upper faceA 'of the plate 184 and, byrotating the plate 184, areconnec-ted invarious combinations-with the contacts 172, one-otwhichisV connected toa terminal 26 forthe return" circuit 44 off-Fig; 2.

By turning the'plate-'184 to variousposrr tions, Y different combinations of the terminal 26- and bind-ing posts 176with the contacts 182Aand-tl1ence with the vterminals 172 of the posts/168 are obtained, so that at some positions all of the posts 168 are connectedt'o the terminalj126 and, in other-positions, a larger or smaller number of the postsarethus connected. Y 4

The switchfZO of the branch circuitwires 66 and 74 is similarly drivenfroml the clockwork through the'gears 228'and 230, an'dhas a similarV arrangement` of' rotatingy wipers 248, posts240'and 25() and rotatingg insulatingl plate' 256 with contacts 258arranged to provide similar combinations ofthe-'posts 250 with' a Vterminal l72.*-

A's changes' oil construction? could be made within the scope of? my inventionit isinf tended that all matterlcont'ained'in the above description or shown' in the accompanying drawings bevinterpreted as illustrative and not inalimiting sense.

Having. thus 'describedl my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by/Letters `Pat'entfis t 1. A-dev-ice ofthe type described whichk comprises,- a series ot'insulated posts, av rotater ing. wiper contacting with said postsin succession, resilient" contacts connected sepa-- rately to 'sep' arate posts of saidE series, and-in-` sulated plate rotatable to a number of' posi-AV tions, interconnected contacts on' saidl plate brought( intoV Contact with the resilient? con-n tacts oi'- diferent-combinations of posts indiff erent positions of'said plate and means forI manually rotating said plate t'o'saidfdilerentpositionsz- 2; Ay device ofthe'type' l d'escribedy which comprises', a series ofinsulatedfposts, a-rotat ing: wiper contacting with said? posts inf suc-A cession; resilient' contacts 'separatel-y;v conf nected to separate postsV of saidiserie's, anim sulated plate rotatable to a number of" positions, interconnected` contacts on said. plate brought -V into" contact with the resilient 'f conL tacts o1u different combinations ofpostsin different positions ofsaid plate,- said plate havin-g notches in Lits-periphery to correspond' with said= positions, ,a' detent Jfor`- said-notchesE and means for manually rotating said plate.

3. A device of the type described which comprises, a series of insulated posts, a wiper adapted to Contact with said posts in succession, a rotating plate of insulating material, interconnected contacts on said plate, contacts connected individually to separate posts of said series and resiliently pressing against the surface of said rotating insulating plate, means for rotating said plate to bring said interconnected contacts into contact with different combinations of said post contacts in different positions of said plate and means for connecting said wiper and said interconnected contacts with binding posts.

4. A device of the type described which comprises, a rotating wiper a series of insulated posts contacted in succession by said wiper, an insulated plate rotatable to a number of positions and interconnected contacts on said plate brought into contact with different combinations of posts in dierent positions of said plate.

5. A device of the type described which comprises, a rotating` wiper, a series of insulated posts contacted in succession by said wiper, aninsulated plate rotatable to a number of positions, interconnected contacts on said plate broughtinto contact with different vcombinations oi posts in different positions of said plate, means for manually rotating said plate to said different positions, and a pointer and dial for indicating the position `of said rotatable plate relative to said posts.

6. A device of the type described which comprises, a rotating wiper, a series of insulated posts contacted in succession by said signature.

' FRANK E. PENDLETON.

wiper, an insulated plate rotatable to a number of positions, interconnected contacts on said plate brought into contact with different combinations of posts in different positions of said plate, said plate having a series of notches on its circumference corresponding to said positions, a detent resiliently engaging said notches and means for manually rotating said plate.

7 Apparatus of the type described which comprises, a clockwork driving element having a dial, a rotating switch element for making and breaking contact in an electric circuit, a transmission element from said clockwork to said rotating element, means for turning said transmission and rotating switch elements forward independently of said clockwork and a dial and pointer connected to said transmission to indicate the relation of said transmission and Vrotating element to said clockwork.

8. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, a clockwork driving element having a dial, a rotating switch element for making and breaking contact in an electric circuit, a pawl and ratchet transmission element from said clockwork to said rotating element, to 

